There are 7 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 1996 Ford F-350in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I OWN A 1996 FORD F-350 CREW CAB WITH A 7.3 LITER POWERSTROKE DIESEL. THE WIRING HARNESSON THE INTAKE MANAFOLD TO CONTROLE THE GLOWPLUGS MELTS AND SO DOES THE VALVE COVER GASKET OF WITCH THE WIREING HARNESS PASSES THROUGH IT WITH A PLUG X'S 2 AND THAN THE INTERNAL WIRING HARNESSES BURN UP UNDER THE VALVE COVER REQUIRING THE ENGINE TO BE DISSASEMBLED TO THE POINT OF THE HEAD TO REPLACE THE COMPONENTS. FURTHER MORE ON THE CLUTCH LINKAGE THERE IS A PLASTIC BUSHING THAT DISINTEGRATES QUITE OFTEN UNDER NORMAL USE. PARTS ARE AVAILABLE BUT THE WIREING PROBLEM IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX EVEN YOURSELF. THE CLUTCH LINKAGE IS FAIRLY EASY TO FIX BUT SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN IT DOES.*AK
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THIS WAS STILL UNDETERMINED.*AK
NAR 03/13/2003 WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE REAR AXLE WAS COMPLETELY BURNED. WITH NO PRIOR PROBLEMS IT JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE. *CB *JB
HEADLIGHTS BECOME INOPERABLE ON A INTERMITTENT BASIS WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL SHORT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
TURNED THE IGNITION, THERE WAS A DISINCT BURNING SMELL AND THE WIRING HARNESSES IN THE TRUCK WAS SHORTED. SOME OF THE WIRING AND HARNESSES ACTUALLY MELTED. THE TECHNICIAN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE WIRING DIAGRAM WAS INCORRECT, BUT THEY HAD NOT GOTTEN AROUND TO CORRECTING IT.
THE DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR BEARINGS LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE ALTERNATOR TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER AT THE MOMENT. *AK
UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT, FAULTY WIRING HARNESS OVERHEATED, WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026